Stator connector

ABSTRACT

A stator for a sensitive rotating viscometer is directly connected to the viscometer module housing or the viscometer module lower housing (rotor housing) particularly on lower portions or about a side of the same. The stator connector can employ the bayonet-attachment principle, where a suitable stator is inserted into the connector and, with a twist of the inserted stator, is attached to the connector. The stator can include a hollow tube housing having an open top and a closed bottom, with a wide lip extending outwardly and generally normal to the tube housing at the top of the tube housing, and may have a stator retaining hole in the lip. Lip ears may be present in conjunction with or separately from a lip extension. Gas entry and exit orifices may be present in a side wall of the housing.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 08/486,881, filed Jun 7,1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,548,994, which is a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 08/308918 filed Sep. 20, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No.5,513,517.

FIELD

The present invention concerns a sensitive rotating viscometer with astator connection therefor and therein, and the stator itself, useful inmeasuring fluid viscosity.

BACKGROUND

The configuration of most rotational viscometers require a rotatingelement called the rotor and a stationary element called the stator,which contains the fluid to be tested for properties such as viscosity,and in which most typically the rotor rotates in contact with the fluidso as to determine drag caused by the fluid. This drag can then berelated to the viscosity of the fluid.

Rotational viscometers such as the Brookfield viscometer are well-knowninstruments for measuring viscosities of liquids. Usually, the rotor,which is driven by a motor in the Brookfield head or module, is immersedin a large container of liquid in which the walls of the container areat some considerable distance from the rotor and thus have littleinfluence on the measurement of the viscous value. This container is thestator. In some applications such as in the well-known ScanningBrookfield Technique, discovered and developed by Mr. Theodore W. Selbyand licensed to the Tannas Co., Midland, Mich., and used in ASTM D 5133,incorporated herein by reference as its 1990 version, the rotor must berelatively close to the stator wall to gain the necessary sensitivity.In such a case, the rotor must be centered carefully.

Typically, the stator is fixed to the Brookfield module by means of astator collar. See e.g., Deysarkar et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,648,263 (Mar.10, 1987), incorporated herein by reference.

In practice, problems are encountered with the commercially availablesupport and centering attachment as of Deysarkar et al., which is knowncommercially as the Pennzoil/Tannas rotor/stator centering adapter,Tannas Model Number SBV-P. In particular, and in reference to theforegoing patent, an O-ring, present in the SBV-P adapter in a slot cutin interior surface 54 of cylindrical member 70, can swell as fromcontact with solvents or oil to the point where sometimes, upon thecontraction of the constraining cylindrical member 70, a glass stator 28may be difficult to remove or actually break in removal. The O-ring alsomay become worn or oily, and, if a loose fit between cylindrical member70 and stator 28 is engendered, slippage and rotation of the statoroccurs during testing, which destroys the value of the test.Furthermore, the O-ring can be difficult to install and remove forreplacement. Another effect of low-temperature contraction ofcylindrical member 70 is that when bath 44 controls the test liquidtemperature at minus forty degrees C., or below, separation of parts ofdevice 40, to include removal of a glass stator 28, filled with testedliquid, from the lower end 52 of the device, becomes very difficultbecause of the aforementioned contraction of the engineeringthermoplastic employed to make the adapter.

A further problem in low temperature viscometry is the need to introducedry air or gas above the liquid being cooled so that the surface of theoil does not gather moisture and form ice.

Accordingly, research has been directed at solving such problems at theTannas Co. Note in this connection the following U.S. patentapplications: Van Meter et al., Ser. No. 08/308,918, filed Sep. 20,1994, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,517 (May 7, 1996), entitledROTOR-STATOR ADAPTER FOR SENSITIVE ROTATING VISCOMETERS; Van Meter, Ser.No. 08/336,379, filed Nov. 8, 1994, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,850(May 21, 1996), entitled ROTOR-STATOR ADAPTERS WITH INTERNALLY THREADEDSTATOR COLLAR & EXTERNALLY THREADED NUT FOR SENSITIVE ROTATINGVISCOMETERS. See also, Van Meter et al., design Ser. No. 29/030,792,filed Nov. 8, 1994, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 364,351 (Nov. 21, 1995),entitled COLLAR HOUSING FOR A ROTOR-STATOR ADAPTOR FOR SENSITIVEROTATING VISCOMETERS. Each of these inventions involves a stator collar,improvements over the support arid centering device of Deysarkar et al.,and the commercial model SBV-P.

However, manufacture and commercialization of such adapten or statorcollars is, in general, not without noteworthy expense. Moreover, therequirement of an adapter or stator collar can present an additionalinvestment in operator training, and equipment upkeep.

What is needed is an arrangement or article which overcomes suchproblems or hurdles, while providing for precise centering of the rotorspindle in the stator of a sensitive rotating viscometer. It should bereadily manufacturable and commercializable--and be efficient tooperate, especially by even inexperienced operation.

OBJECTS

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorateproblems in the art such as aforesaid.

It is an object hereof to avoid an adapter such as of the patent toDeysarkar et al.

It is an object hereof to avoid problems or drawbacks associated withthe presence of an adapter or stator collar in a sensitive rotatingviscometer as aforesaid.

It is an object hereof to provide for precise centering of the rotorspindle in the slater of such a viscometer.

It is an object hereof to provide for simple introduction of dry air orgas to protect the liquid surface from moist air.

It is an object hereof to provide a readily manufacturable arrangement.

It is an object hereof to provide a readily commercializablearrangement.

It is an object hereof to provide an efficiently operable arrangement,especially by even inexperienced operators.

Further objects hereof are extant, to include as may be ascertained fromthe present specification.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides, in one aspect, in a sensitive rotatingviscometer having a module in which resides a motor for rotating a rotorattachable to a shaft of the motor, the rotor having a longitudinal axisand being rotatable about its longitudinal axis, being typicallypivotally suspended from the shaft about to a lower end of theviscometer module, and generally cooperating with a stator and apredetermined quantity of test fluid in the stator, and being suspendedwithin the slater in which the test fluid can be contained for contactwith the rotor, so that, when the rotor rotates therein, drag is createdon the rotating rotor related to viscosity of the test fluid, theimprovement which comprises a fixable stator connected to the module ofthe viscometer through a proximate slater connector. Another aspecthereof can include the fixable stator itself.

The invention is useful in assisting the measurement of viscosity.

Significantly, the invention achieves all or at least some of itsobjects and solves or ameliorates problems in the art as aforementioned.More particularly, the invention avoids the aforementioned adapters oro-ring-containing slater collars, and hence, problems associated withthe same or the like. It is readily manufacturable and commercializable;it provides for precise centering of the rotor within the stator, and itis easily operable, especially by even inexperienced operators.

Nurmerous further advantages attend the invention.

DRAWINGS

The drawings form part of the specification hereof. In the drawings, inwhich like numerals refer to like features, the following is brieflynoted:

FIG. 1 is a front, partial cut-away view of a sensitive rotatingviscometer, improved with stator connectors of the invention. The statorconnectors are viewed from the side.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a stator connector as present in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side, partial cut-away view of the stator connector of FIG.2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the stator connector of FIG. 2, with a rotorspindle and stator attached.

FIG. 5 is a side, partial cut-away view of the stator connector of FIG.4.

FIG. 6 is a side, partial cut-away view of another embodiment of astator connector of the invention, mounted on a sensitive rotatingviscometer to improve the same.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the stator connector present in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side view of another embodiment of a stator connector of theinvention, mounted on a sensitive rotating viscometer to improve thesame.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the stator connector of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a side, partial cut-away view of the stator connector of FIG.8, having a stator connected thereto.

FIG. 11 is a top view of an improved stator of the invention, having achordate lip, which can be employed in the stator connector of FIGS.8-10.

FIG. 12 is a side, partial cut-away view or another embodiment of astator connector of the invention, to include another embodiment of animproved stator of the invention, mounted on a sensitive rotatingviscometer to improve the same, with a rotor spindle attached.

FIG. 13 is a top view of the improved stator present in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a side, cut-away view of another embodiment of an improvedstator of the invention.

FIG. 15 is a side, cut-away view of another embodiment of a statorconnector of the invention, mounted on a sensitive rotating viscometer,with a stator-holder in position ready for turning to secure it inplace.

FIG. 16 is a top view of a stator-holder portion of the stator connectorof FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a front, cut-away view of the stator connector of FIG. 15,mounted on a sensitive rotating viscometer to improve the same, with itsstator-holder secured in place.

FIG. 18 is a side, cut-away view of another embodiment of a statorconnector of the invention, assembled with a sensitive rotatingviscometer to improve the same.

FIG. 19 is a top, side, rear perspective view of another embodiment of astator connector of the invention.

FIG. 20 is a side, cut-away, exploded view of the stator connector ofFIG. 19 with stator.

FIG. 21 is a top view of part of a top portion of the stator connectorof FIG. 19.

FIG. 22 is a side, cut-away view of the stator connector of FIG. 19 withstator, mounted on a sensitive rotating viscometer to improve the same.

ILLUSTRATIVE DETAIL

The patents, pending patent specifications, and other publicationsmentioned anywhere in the present specification are incorporated hereinby reference.

The invention can be further understood by reference to the presentdetail and drawings, which are to be construed as illustrative and notnecessarily limiting in nature.

In reference to the drawing figures, within FIGS. 1 et seq., sensitiverotating viscometer 1000 has viscometer module 100 which houses a motor(not illustrated) and so forth. Along axis of rotation 101, in general,from lower end 120 of the module 100 protrudes rotatable motor shaft130. An adapter 131, mounting on the shaft 130, can have pivot notch orhook 132 for pivotally mounting a rotor spindle 140 which rotates intest liquid 99, for example, a gear oil, motor oil, automatictransmission fluid, or other oleaginous or hydrophylic liquid, containedin stator 280. The stator 280 contains the test liquid 99 and isattached for testing.

Stator connector 300 may attach directly to the viscometer lower end 120(FIGS. 1-7) or be made integrally therewith (FIGS. 8-10 & 12).Modifications from combining features of attachment and integrallymaking of a stator connector with the viscometer module 100 can be madesuch as by integrally making a portion of the stator connector with themodule and attaching the remaining portions of the stator connector tothe module, and such are within the practice of the present invention.

In reference to FIGS. 1-5 and 6 & 7, the stator connector 300 hassemi-cylindrical attacment member 310 to be attached to standardcylindrical viscometer lower end 120 of viscometer module 120 such aswith the Model TAV-2 rotating viscometer module available from TannasCo., Midland, Mich., although other shapes of the attachment member 310are possible, which preferably conform to the shape of the lower end120. Attachment may be by attaching screw 311, which is threaded to matewith tapped lower end attachment hole 121. Attached to or integral withthe attachment member 310 is base plate 320, which is generally orientedhorizontally and normal to the attachment member 310, and upon whichrests a bottom surface 122 of the lower end 120 of the viscometer module100. Leveling screw holes 321, generally three or four in number, andpreferably four for greater stability, accommodate leveling screws 330.Bases 331 of the leveling screws 330 contact top surface 150 ofviscometer 1000, which has a hole 151 therein to permit insertion of theshaft 130 and/or its attachments to include rotor spindle 140 as instator 280 to be inserted into temperature control bath liquid 160 ofthe viscometer 1000 for testing. O-ring 340 or other flexible washer maybe present to seal top of the stator 280. It is in base opening 350,having a primary hole 351, a larger, stator-accommodating recess 352 andperhaps an O-ring groove 353, that the washer 340 is placed. A statorlip retaining ledge 354, which need not extend a great distancecircumferentially and thus maybe at a generally localized position, isretained at the boundary of the opening. The ledge 354 extends insidethe lateral, or horizontally extending, depth of the portion of thestator-accommodating recess 352 proximate thereto. Movable ledge 360 canclip lip 281 of a stator 280 such as by lever action and contact withthe underside of the lip 281 while the underside of the opposing portionof the lip 281 is held by the stationary stator lip retaining ledge 354.Preferably, the ledges 354 & 360 oppose one another at a 180-degree orso position. The movable ledge 360 can be of a resilient or spring-likematerial or be spring loaded. Inert gas blanket introduction connection370, for example, a LUER-LOCK TYGON plastic tubing air adapter, can bepresent with inert gas blanket conduit 371 to provide for relativelyslow introduction of an inert gas, for example, dry air or nitrogen, fora blanket over test liquid 99 in the stator 280. Exit of the inert gasas during testing is by leakage from the Brookfield viscometer moduleabove the introduction site. In additional reference to FIGS. 6 & 7,downwardly extending, stationary ledge member 355 and downwardlyextendable, movable ledge member 365, for example, movable by pivoting,can assist in providing lateral support to opposite sides of the stator280.

In reference to FIGS. 8-10, and in supplement to the foregoing,attachment member 310 and base plate 320 as found in embodimentsdepicted in FIGS. 1-7 are not necessary. Rather, two L-shaped statorretention members 450 oppose each other at a distance suitable forinsertion and retention of a stator 280 by lip 281. Each statorretention member 450 defines a stator-accommodating-retaining recess 452and stator lip retaining, stationary ledge 454. Accommodation may bemade for a washer or O-ring 340, and so forth. Leveling nuts 430 havebases 431, which contact the top surface 150 of the viscometer 1000. Theleveling nuts are screwed on to threaded studs 433, which are positionedin the lower end 120 of the viscometer module 100 of the viscometer1000. This embodiment employs the bayonet-attachment principle.

In reference to FIG. 11, stator 280 has lip portion 281 and chordate lip282. This stator is especially useful in an improved viscometer as onehaving the two L-shaped stator retention members 450 as depicted inFIGS. 8-10. Therein, this stator 280 is filled with test fluid andpulled up over rotor 140 attached to viscometer module 100 with itschordate lip portions passing up by and clearing the stationary ledges454 until the top of the stator contacts any washer or O-ring 340. Therethe stator is rotated about ninety degrees, as generally depicted inFIG. 11, so that the lip portions 281 are moved into thestator-accommodating-retaining recesses 452 and held up by thestationary ledges 454.

In reference to FIGS. 12 & 13, stator 280 with wide lip 283 is retainedin place through stator-retaining nuts 434. The threaded studs 433 gothrough stator lip retaining holes 284.

In additional reference to FIGS. 8, 14, 10, 12, 15, 17 an inert gas exitorifice 380 provides for exit of inert gas through exit conduit 381 asduring testing. This can provide for efficient flushing of the voidspace above the test liquid 99 in the stator 280 in provision of theinert gas blanket.

In reference to FIG. 14, stator 280 may have wide lip 283 and stator lipretaining holes 284 so as to be usable with a viscometer and statorconnector as depicted in FIG. 12. This stator 280 has inert gas entryport 285 and inert gas exit port 286 for provision of an inert gasblanket, bypassing the need for inert gas connections and conduits in aviscometer module or a stator connector apparatus themselves.

In reference to FIGS. 15-17, the stator connector 300 has partsgenerally akin to the stator collar and nut pieces of the invention ofVan Meter et al., Ser. No. 08/308,918. The present connector 300includes collar 470 with lips or ears 471 proximate the top thereof.Inner cylindrical surface 154 of the stator collar is dimensioned toreceive and encircle an upper end or lip 281 of the stator 280. Thepresent connector 300 includes wall 480 which is externally threaded 481in a lower portion thereof. The threaded wall is perforately slotted soas to provide by each slot an opening from the exterior to the interiorof the wall, and preferably thus form fingers from a plurality ofaxially-directed slots. The wall has means to accept pressure and directit inwardly such as, for example, may be provided by suitably taperedthreads, or other surfaces, which may include protrusions, for example,a nut retaining lip 483 on the stator collar 470, which may be squared,rounded or beveled at its lower, distal end 484, and capable ofreceiving the pressure and to have it directed inwardly. Such apressure-receiving protrusion can be provided by a first, lower threadfrom among threads 481. As well, the present connector 300 has a nut490, which is correspondingly, internally threaded 491 for attachment bythreading about the threaded, slotted wall 480. The nut 490 has means toexert guiding pressure on the means to accept pressure of the wall 480so as to cause it to be directed inwardly by tightening of the nut suchas, for example, may be provided by suitably reverse tapered threads, orother surfaces, which may include ramps or other suitable protrusionssuch as an internal reverse bevel 494. This generally causes snugcontact between the lower interior surface 154 of the support member andthe exterior cylindrical surface of a typical stator. In the collar 470,an external radial recess may be present for receiving a protrusion 485of the nut 490. In the nut 490, an internal radial recess 493 may bepresent for receiving the protrusion 484 of the stator collar. Thecollar 470 is inserted into position between L-shaped stator retentionmembers 450. Each stator retention member 450 defines astator-accommodating-retaining recess 452 and stator lip retaining,stationary ledge 454. Ramps 455 apply upward pressure upon turning ofcollar 470 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 16. Accommodation maybe made for a washer or O-ring 340, and so forth. Again, leveling screws330, inserted into integral or attached base plate 420, have bases 331,which contact the top surface 150 of the viscometer 1000. The base plate420 can be attached to lower end 120 of the viscometer module 100 bycountersunk screws 421. THIS embodiment employs the bayonet-attachmentprinciple.

In reference to FIG. 18, the sator connector 300 has upright wall 422,which may house lower end 120 of the viscometer 100, projecting from theleveling base 420, which concludes in an upper base 420 which isattached to the viscometer module 100 directly by means of suitablefasteners, for example, screws 424. Lower end 120 of the viscometermodule 100 is bypassed and may be removed. Other features of thisconnector to secure the stator are present, for example, such as thosepresent and described for the stator connector depicted in FIGS. 15-17.

In reference to FIGS. 19-22, the stator connector 300 preferably hasparts of the stator collar and nut of the invention of Van Meter et al.,Ser. No. 08/308,918, i.e., stator collar 170 and nut 190. These areattached to a base 520, which may be, for example, of 3/8-inch aluminum,by means of screw 550, which screws into the collar 170, which ispreferably made of DELRIN acetal homopolymer resin. The screw passesthrough upright support 530, which can be attached, for example, as inFIG. 20 by welds 521 if the base 520 and support 530 are both of metal,for example, aluminum. Preferably, as in FIG. 21, screws 522 securesupport 530 into the base 520. Gluing, screwing, press fitting,riveting, and so forth are alternatives as well as is casting or moldingthe base and support in one piece. The upright support, base and collarassembly are attached to lower end 120 of the viscometer module 100,which lower end may be termed the rotor housing, as by screw 540 orother fastener. In practice, a screw 540, for example, a 1/4-inch28-threads-to-the-inch screw, passes through threaded hole 536 and intothreaded hole 126 of the rotor housing 120 to fasten the base andsupport 520 & 530 to the rotor housing of a standard rotating viscometersuch as the Model TAV-2 available from the Tannas Co., Midland, Mich.,and the collar, nut and stator assembly is attached and removedthereafter in test set up and take down. Again, provision is made forleveling screws 330, which may have base 331. The rotor housing 120 maybe attached to the viscometer module 100 with screws which pass throughholes 124. The upright support 530 may have arms 531 which have bevels532 to engage a part of the lower end 120 of the viscometer 100 andcollar 170, to align and center these. Screw 550 may be accompanied byspring 551 for piloting into partially threaded barrel 535, for example,as in a stepped barrel with spring ejected 1/4-inch28-threads-to-the-inch thumbscrew, which then engages correspondingthreads 151 of the collar 170. Gas passage 580 may be present. Gaspassage 680 may be present in the collar 170. Gas passage pin 581 helpslocate collar 170 by use of passage 680 for easier attachment.Preferably, six slots 182 make six fingers 183 to provide for ease ofapplying inwardly directed pressure upon tightening of the nut 190. Forexample, the base 520 and support 530 may have the following dimensions:

    ______________________________________                                        Feature      Dimension in Inches                                              ______________________________________                                        Width 560    3.5                                                              Length 561   4.0                                                              Distance 562 1.5                                                              Width 563    0.5                                                              Radius 564   0.950                                                            Distance 565 0.25                                                             Width 566    1.5                                                              Length 567   0.5                                                              ______________________________________                                    

Also, for example, the rotor housing 120, collar 170, and nut 190 mayhave the following dimensions:

    ______________________________________                                        Feature        Dimension in Inches                                            ______________________________________                                        Diameter 600   2.375                                                          Diameter 601   1.625                                                          Height 602     1.625                                                          Diameter 603   0.47                                                           Diameter 604   1.875                                                          Diameter 605   1.875                                                          Chamfer 606    0.625                                                          Diameter 607   1.375                                                          Height 608     0.875                                                          Hole Diameter 609                                                                            0.275                                                          Chamfer 610    0.625                                                          Height 611     0.375                                                          Height 612     1.125                                                          Height 613     0.125                                                          Height 614     0.090                                                          Diameter 615   1.070                                                          Height 616     0.375                                                          Height 617     1.00                                                           Diameter 618   1.13                                                           Diameter 619   1.150                                                          Height 620     0.59                                                           U-Cut Height 621                                                                             0.125                                                          U-Cut Diameter 622                                                                           1.250                                                          Height 623     0.090                                                          Diameter 624   1.080                                                          Diameter 625   1.510                                                          ______________________________________                                    

Threads 181, for example, may be provided at 12-per-inch with an0.054-inch thread surface and a 1.250-inch outside diameter. Angle 650,for example, may be a 60-degree angle, and angle 651, for exaample,maybe a 30-degree angle. Such dimensions and angles may be approximated.

In general, the stator connector components may be made of any suitablematerial or combination of materials such as engineering plastics,metals, glass, and so forth. They may be made by methods known in theart to include casting, molding, cutting, drilling, machining, milling,gluing, welding, pinning, riveting, screwing, and so forth and the like.

In general, the stator 280 may be of a standard length or of a lengthlonger than standard stators for employment with sensitive rotatingviscometers. They may be made of glass, plastic or metal, but preferablyare of glass, and may be made by methods known in the art as thoseskilled therein appreciate.

Accordingly, from the foregoing and with reference to the drawings,especially FIGS. 11, 13, 14 & 16, and figures ancillary thereto, thefollowing embodiments of the invention are provided:

A. A stator for a sensitive rotating viscometer, which stator comprisesa hollow tube housing having an open top, a closed bottom and a sidewall set extending from the open top to the closed bottom such that thestator can contain a liquid test sample therein, with a wide lipextending outwardly, generally normal to the tube housing at the topthereof, with an inner lip boundary and an outer lip boundary defined bythe wide lip, and with at least one stator retaining hole positioned inthe lip between the inner lip boundary and the outer lip boundary. Aplurality of such holes may be present.

B. A stator for a sensitive rotating viscometer, which stator comprisesa hollow tube housing having an open top, a closed bottom and a sidewall set extending from the open top to the closed bottom such that thestator can contain a liquid test sample therein; and at least one of (i)lip ears, which form a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly,generally normal to the tube housing at the top thereof, in addition toa lip extending outwardly, generally normal to the tube housing at thetop thereof, with an inner lip boundary and an outer lip boundarydefined by the lip ears and the lip; and (ii) lip ears as above, andwhich can be formed as or termed a chordate lip, with there being aplace where there is no lip extension--wherein, in any case, no statorretaining hole is found between said inner and outer lip ear or lipboundaries.

Such stator embodiments may have an orifice present in the tube housingin a side wall thereof, useful for introduction of an inert gas, andfurther a second orifice present in the tube housing in a side wallthereof, useful for exit of the inert gas. Again, the stator may be madeof glass.

As well, from the foregoing and with reference to the drawings,especially FIGS. 8-11 & 16, and figures ancillary thereto, in general,the stator connector may employ the bayonet-attachment principle, wherea part of a stator having lip ears or of a stator collar having lip earsis inserted into the stator connector and, with a twist of the insertedpart, is attached to the stator connector. Such a stator connector hasstator retention members to go under the lip ears of the part abovewhich the lip ears reside after the insertion. This stator can beconnected to the sensitive rotating viscometer module through thebayonet-attachment-principle-type stator connector which can be attachedto the lower end of the module.

CONCLUSION

The present invention is thus provided. Numerous modifications can beeffected within its spirit, the literal claim scope of which isparticularly pointed out as follows:

I claim:
 1. A stator for a sensitive rotating viscometer, which statorcomprises a hollow tube housing having an open top, a closed bottom anda side wall set extending from the open top to the closed bottom suchthat the stator can contain a liquid test sample therein, with a widelip extending outwardly, generally normal to the tube housing at the topthereof, with an inner lip boundary and an outer lip boundary defined bythe wide lip, and with at least one stator retaining hole positioned inthe lip between the inner lip boundary and the outer lip boundary. 2.The stator of claim 1, wherein an orifice is present in the tube housingin a side wall thereof, useful for introduction of an inert gas.
 3. Thestator of claim 2, which has a second orifice present in the tubehousing in a side wall thereof, useful for exit of the inert gas.
 4. Thestator of claim 1, which has a plurality of stator retaining holespositioned in the lip between the inner lip boundary and the outer lipboundary.
 5. The stator of claim 1, which is made of glass.
 6. A statorfor a sensitive rotating viscometer, which stator comprises a hollowtube housing having an open top, a closed bottom and a side wall setextending from the open top to the closed bottom such that the statorcan contain a liquid test sample therein; andlip ears, which form aplurality of protrusions extending outwardly, generally normal to thetube housing at the top thereof, in addition to a lip extendingoutwardly, generally normal to the tube housing at the top thereof, withan inner lip boundary and an outer lip boundary defined by the lip earsand the lip; wherein no stator retaining hole is found between saidinner and outer lip ear and lip boundaries.
 7. The stator of claim 6,wherein an orifice is present in the tube housing in a side wallthereof, useful for introduction of an inert gas.
 8. The stator of claim7, which has a second orifice present in the tube housing in a side wallthereof, useful for exit of the inert gas.
 9. The stator of claim 6,which is made of glass.
 10. A stator connector comprising a device,which is useful in a sensitive rotating viscometer having a module inwhich resides a motor for rotating a rotor attachable to a shaft of themotor, the rotor having a longitudinal axis and being generallysuspended from the shaft about a lower end of the viscometer module, themodule connectable to a stator which is to contain a predeterminedquantity of test fluid into which the rotor is immersed so that therotor is concurrently suspended within the stator so that, when therotor rotates therein, drag is created on the rotating rotor related toviscosity of the test fluid, wherein the stator connector attaches tothe lower end of the viscometer module and employs a bayonet-attachmentprinciple, wherein a suitable part of a stator having lip ears or of astator collar having lip ears can be inserted into the stator connectorand, with a twist of the inserted part, can be attached to the statorconnector, the stator connector having stator retention members to gounder the lip ears of the suitable part above which the lip ears canreside after the insertion.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein thestator connector has two L-shaped stator retention members which opposeeach other at a distance for insertion and retention of the statorhaving lip ears, wherein each stator retention member defines astator-accommodating-retaining recess and a stator lip ear retaining,stationary ledge.
 12. The device of claim 10, wherein the statorconnector has two L-shaped stator retention members which oppose eachother at a distance for insertion and retention of the stator collarhaving lip ears, wherein each stator retention member defines a statorcollar-accommodating-retaining recess and a stator collar lip earretaining, stationary ledge.
 13. The device of claim 12, furthercomprising the stator collar.
 14. The device of claim 13, wherein thestator collar includes a cylindrical surface of a dimension to receiveand encircle an upper end or lip of a stator; a wall, which isexternally threaded in a lower portion thereof, which wall isperforately slotted with a plurality of axially-directed slots so as toprovide by each slot an opening from exterior to interior of the walland form fingers, and which wall has means to accept pressure and directit inwardly; and a nut which is correspondingly, but internally threadedfor attachment by threading about the threaded, slotted wall, which nuthas means to exert guiding pressure on the means to accept pressure ofthe wall so as to cause it to be directed inwardly by tightening of thenut--the same which generally causes snug contact between the lowerinterior surface and an exterior cylindrical surface of the stator. 15.In a sensitive rotating viscometer having a module in which resides amotor for rotating a rotor attachable to a shaft of the motor, the rotorhaving a longitudinal axis and being generally suspended from the shaftabout a lower end of the viscometer module, the module connectable to astator which is to contain a predetermined quantity of test fluid intowhich the rotor is immersed so that the rotor is concurrently suspendedwithin the stator so that, when the rotor rotates therein, drag iscreated on the rotating rotor related to viscosity of the test fluid,the improvement which comprises a fixable stator connected to the moduleof the viscometer through a stator connector as defined in claim
 10. 16.In a sensitive rotating viscometer having a module in which resides amotor for rotating a rotor attachable to a shaft of the motor, the rotorhaving a longitudinal axis and being generally suspended from the shaftabout a lower end of the viscometer module, the module connectable to astator which is to contain a predetermined quantity of test fluid intowhich the rotor is immersed so that the rotor is concurrently suspendedwithin the stator so that, when the rotor rotates therein, drag iscreated on the rotating rotor related to viscosity of the test fluid,the improvement which comprises a fixable stator connected to the moduleof the viscometer through a stator connector as defined in claim
 11. 17.In a sensitive rotating viscometer having a module in which resides amotor for rotating a rotor attachable to a shaft of the motor, the rotorhaving a longitudinal axis and being generally suspended from the shaftabout a lower end of the viscometer module, the module connectable to astator which is to contain a predetermined quantity of test fluid intowhich the rotor is immersed so that the rotor is concurrently suspendedwithin the stator so that, when the rotor rotates therein, drag iscreated on the rotating rotor related to viscosity of the test fluid,the improvement which comprises a fixable stator connected to the moduleof the viscometer through a stator connector as defined in claim
 12. 18.In a sensitive rotating viscometer having a module in which resides amotor for rotating a rotor attachable to a shaft of the motor, the rotorhaving a longitudinal axis and being generally suspended from the shaftabout a lower end of the viscometer module, the module connectable to astator which is to contain a predetermined quantity of test fluid intowhich the rotor is immersed so that the rotor is concurrently suspendedwithin the stator so that, when the rotor rotates therein, drag iscreated on the rotating rotor related to viscosity of the test fluid,the improvement which comprises a fixable stator connected to the moduleof the viscometer through a stator connector as defined in claim
 13. 19.In a sensitive rotating viscometer having a module in which resides amotor for rotating a rotor attachable to a shaft of the motor, the rotorhaving a longitudinal axis and being generally suspended from the shaftabout a lower end of the viscometer module, the module connectable to astator which is to contain a predetermined quantity of test fluid intowhich the rotor is immersed so that the rotor is concurrently suspendedwithin the stator so that, when the rotor rotates therein, drag iscreated on the rotating rotor related to viscosity of the test fluid,the improvement which comprises a fixable stator connected to the moduleof the viscometer through a stator connector as defined in claim
 14. 20.The device of claim 19, having a standard glass stator.
 21. A seatot fora sensitive rotating viscometer, which stator comprises a hollow tubehousing having an open top, a closed bottom and a side wall setextending from the open top to the closed bottom such that the etatotcan contain a liquid test sample therein; andlip ears, which form aplurality of protrusions extending outwardly, generally normal to thetube housing at the top thereof, with an inner lip boundary and an outerlip boundary defined by the lip ears or lip extensions and the wide lip,and which can be formed as or termed a chordate lip, with there being aplace where there is no lip extension; wherein no seatot retaining holeis found between said inner and outer lip ear and lip boundaries. 22.The seatot of claim 21, wherein an orifice is present in the tubehousing in a side wall thereof, useful for introduction of an inert gas.23. The seatot of claim 22, which has a second orifice present in thetube housing in a side wall thereof, useful for exit of the inert gas.24. The stator of claim 21, which is made of glass.